Whether you’re into polo or not, getting dressed up and going to a Sunday polo match is an experience, and it was one I had to experience as a long-time Greenwich, CT resident. I had put it off too long at this point. It had been over 10 years! But this experience isn’t limited to people from Greenwich. It’s an easy commute for anyone in the tri-state area. In fact, this polo match is just 45 minutes from NYC! My first-hand experience at the Greenwich Polo Club can be summarized in one sentence: A glamorous yet laidback outing for a day of men on horses, the cracking of the mallet, and time-honored traditions like the ritual stomping of divots at halftime.
While the sport is fun to watch and is open to children, pets, and adults, the real entertainment is the people watching. Everyone who is anyone can be found at the Greenwich Polo Club every Sunday from June through September. Whether this is your first time or your 10th time, take it from me, here is everything you need to know about attending the Greenwich Polo Club Match – from it’s history, what the sport is, why Greenwich is so important to the sport, how to dress and buy tickets, and some fun facts.
FAQs:
What is Polo?
It’s a fairly simple game. The ponies really dictate the game so there aren’t as many parameters as other sports. While polo goes as far back as 2,500 years, when the Persian King’s cavalry and guards used it as a training exercise, the modern game of polo was started in 1863 by British Army officers stationed in India. The object of the game is like soccer or football, get the ball across the goal line and into the goal area. The teams are usually made up of 4 players. Big no-no’s are bumping, hooking, and elbowing. Ride as fast as you can and score!
What do you think?
Some claim that Polo is even more dangerous than Formula 1 or MotoGP. It’s very competitive, both mentally and physically – some say it’s like playing ice hockey on horseback.
Like Formula 1, the sport is also extremely expensive, which is why the only way for them to truly survive is to have company’s sponsor the teams.
What is the dress code for the Greenwich Polo Club?
Everything from golf wear to sports coats to fancy dresses. White is a classic, sundresses are always in, and sun hats are the norm. For footwear though, think about the divot-stomping. You don’t want to be wearing heels on the field.
How long is a Polo Match?
Polo matches are played in 6 chukkers, or periods, of 7 min 30 seconds each. Interesting fact, in Hawaii it’s cut down to 4 due to the humidity and constant rain showers.
Should I sit in the stands or grounds?
Sitting in the stands is nice, but I prefer bringing my own lawn chairs, picnic blankets, and food.
Hours before the first strike of the mallet, cars line up and find their place on the grounds. Women wear Lilly Pulitzer sundresses, Chanel flats, and Gucci sunglasses, while men wear white Polo shirts, J. Crew pants and Dockers shoes. Everyone is sipping champagne from their cut crystal glasses, snacking and dining.
NYC to Greenwich Polo Club in Just 45 Minutes
If you’re not coming by car, it’s actually a super easy commute from the New York City to Greenwich. That’s the primary reason Greenwich is an attractive place to live for people who work in New York. From Grand Central, you take the Metro North Railroad directly to any of the 5 Greenwich neighborhoods listed above. The train stops as Port Chester (for Byram neighborhood), Greenwich (at the bottom of Greenwich Ave), Cos Cob, Riverside, and Old Greenwich. From there you can walk to your stay if it’s nearby or Uber/Lyft. The commute is about 42 minutes if it’s an express train and 1 hour if it’s a local train. From there, take a quick uber or lyft to the polo club.
– History of the Greenwich Polo Club –
The Greenwich Polo Club is “fairly” new to the scene. It’s been around for almost 45 years. It was established in 1981 in backcountry Greenwich by owner Peter Brant, a man who was involved in almost anything you can think of – movies, print, derbies, polo, art etc.
The reason why the Greenwich Polo Club became such a famed polo venue is due to it’s team, the White Birch Polo team. The White Birch polo team is one of the most successful polo teams in history! Since their debut in 1979, they have won over 31 championships and tournaments at the 26-level goal or above (think of the goal level similar to a golf handicap). Polo players are ranked annually by peers and the USPA on a scale of -2 to 10 goals. In the past 25 years, no other polo team has won more tournaments than them. The Greenwich team are the GOATs of polo, no pun intended since we’re talking about ponies here!
Don’t be fooled…
by the size of the field. Since they’re riding on ponies, which need a lot of room to move, it’s massive. For context, a football field is 100 yards (91 meters), while a polo field is 300 yards (274 meters)!
– Schedule & Tickets –
There are 50 matches every year from June to September at the Greenwich Polo Club, however only 11 are open to the public on Sundays at 3PM. You can find the latest schedule and tickets on the Greenwich Polo Club site. In 2024, there are 4 polo matches in June, 2 in July, 1 in August and 1 in September. Gates open at 1PM and the match starts at 3PM and ends at 5PM. The matches that are typically open to the public are the East Coast Silver, Gold and America Cup.
Fun Royal Fact:
In 2013, Prince Harry hosted the Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Match at the Greenwich Polo Club.
Tickets can vary anywhere from $50 – $1000. Your car pass is your ticket! Sitting on the West side is the preferred option, but East Lawn is cheaper. While the East Lawn is cheaper, once the game starts you can only cross to the West side during certain points of the match (where the bathrooms, bars and food trucks are). On the West side, you’re able to roam freely and the grand stands and tables are a fair price.
If you choose the East lawn, bring a picnic blanket, food and drinks, some lawn chairs, and a nice sunhat and enjoy the race.
For the West side, you can’t bring your own food and drinks, so get some goodies from the food trucks (see more on this below in the Food section).
For both, you’ll have access to all the areas of the polo club including the Pony Bar, and the many food trucks on-site, the apparel shop, and after-party Asado.
From here the prices go up, $225 for lawn seating but with a reserved umbrella for up to 4-6 people to $1,000 for a cabana.
– Activities –
If you upgrade your tickets to a Suite or Hospitality area, there are several pop-up shops and activities to engage with during the game. From sampling local specialties to shopping vintage shoes, bags and jewelry, learning more about the latest yachts, and rosé and champagne tastings to go all around. The tickets are a lot more expensive, but they bring a little something extra glamorous for those seeking it. Of course, these areas also come with drinks, lounge chairs, umbrellas, tents, and much more.
– Food & Drinks –
The Pony Bar is the go-to spot next to the grandstands for drinks and cocktails. Drinks are decently priced from $13 cocktails to $8 beers.
If you choose not to bring your own food, don’t worry, the food truck scene here is lit. From the Dough Girls pizza, to tacos, gyros, and my favorite…Maria’s Italian food truck Caffe Bon – serving amazing paninis and coffee pictured above! The options are endless and varied. There’s also a gelato truck to cool you down.
The main benefit of sitting on the East lawn is that you can bring your own food and alcohol. If you’re on the West side, grandstands, suite, skyboxes etc. you cannot bring outside alcohol, only the Cup Bearer can serve you it, and food is limited to snacks.
What is the Cup Bearer?
No, it’s not a fancy polo term really! It’s actually the name of a fancy bartending service. If you choose the more expensive seating at Greenwich Polo Club, you can only be served by them. They offer tastings of Veuve Cliquot, the Macallan, and Ketel One.
– The “Divot Stomping” –
At halftime, we head to the field to “stomp the divots”, a time-honored tradition and the highlight the day. The purpose is to smooth the field that has been chewed up by ponies’ hooves and mallet swings. Think of it like a human Zamboni for ice hockey, except the people are the ones resetting the field. Every man and woman, and the well-dressed kids who accompany them, race to the field. Unhindered by their $1000 outfits and shoes, they raise their dresses or pant legs and stomp the mounds of grass and dirt.
– Post-Race Asado & DJ –
Once the match is over, the party doesn’t end here. Since 2018, the Asado “after-party” has become tradition at the Greenwich Polo Club. It’s a $30 only authentic Argentinian barbecue with a tasting menu of high-quality ribeye steak, pork, chicken, chorizo and morcilla sausage, cooked over an open-fire grill (or parilla), with salad, bread and chimichurri sauce. As many as 400 people attend post-match! A DJ accompanies the event adding to the energetic vibe of the day.
If you’re interested in making a long weekend out of your stay in Greenwich, CT (which I highly recommend!), then see below for my recommendations on where to stay and my full 2-6 day itinerary.
Where to stay in Greenwich, CT?
As a local, there are 2 areas I would recommend to stay in Greenwich. One is next to Greenwich Avenue. This will allow you the flexibility to go out for drinks or to eat during any time of the day, go shopping, head out to the island beaches at the bottom of the avenue, or even take the train to any of the other Greenwich neighborhoods. If you find yourself near Greenwich Avenue, you are in the center of the action. If you choose to stay on the Ave, there are 3 different options, each very unique from the other. I would’ve recommended the historic Thomas Henkelmann in Belle Haven at #1, but it’s closed for restoration unfortunately. So right after Henkelmann, we have:
The second area I would recommend you stay in is Old Greenwich, which is walking and biking distance to Tod’s Point. Finding properties here is much harder, but the benefit is that you’re right on the water.
